Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy

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Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy

by Noam Chomsky

3.97 · rating details · 1,379 ratings · 109 reviews

"It's hard to imagine any American reading this book and not seeing his country in a new, and deeply troubling, light."--The New York Times Book Review
The United States has repeatedly asserted its right to intervene militarily against "failed states" around the globe. In this much-anticipated follow-up to his international bestseller Hegemony or Surviva...more

320 pages

Published April 3rd 2007 by Owl Books

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Oct 09, 2010

Buck rated it

There’s a line in Victor Serge’s Memoirs of a Revolutionary that comes back to me whenever I get trapped in a conversation with a political nutbar. Writing about some Soviet apparatchik that he’d butted heads with, Serge says, “I followed his argument with the blank uneasiness which one might feel in the presence of a logical lunatic.”

Noam Chomsky fills me with blank uneasiness. Now, the man’s no lunatic—let’s get that straight. He’s a gifted scientist and, in some ways, an admirab...more

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Jun 10, 2008

Trevor rated it

Shelves: economics, social-theory

Reading Chomsky always disturbs me. I’m left feeling washed out and despondent. He presents the problems of the world so vividly that it is impossible not to be confronted by the enormity of the issues that confront us. He re-values and re-evaluates received wisdom, the sorts of views we get from watching news programs or reading current affairs articles, to such an extent that one is left wondering if everything we are ever told is basically just another lie. Because that is it – one comes ...more

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Aug 01, 2007

Donovan rated it

Recommends it for: Anyone

One of the many dozens of books professor Chomsky has produced over several decades, in this book - as always - he points out how hypocritical the behavior of the US government is. It says one thing while doing another, 'democracy promotion' for example. While allegedly trying to install a democracy in Iraq, democracy is desperately needed at home. Chomsky makes this hypocrisy seem so obvious that it would be almost comical if it weren't so tragic.

Unfortunately Chomsky does seem to r...more

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Oct 30, 2011

Христо Блажев rated it

Ноам Чомски продължава с демонизацията на САЩ в "Провалени държави"
http://www.knigolandia.info/2011/03/blog...

“По обективни причини не мога да не съм почитател на Ноам Чомски - с всяка своя книга той буквално разкъсва американския империализъм, разнищва корпоративната алчност и разбива де що има митове за "миротворчество" и "налагане на демокрация" от страна на "най-великата държава на планетата".

Това хубаво, но защо сред ...more

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Jul 22, 2011

David Sarkies rated it

Shelves: politics

I have read a few books by Noam Chomsky, and despite him being a very accessible writer, and a profound intellectual, his books tend to all be on the same theme and all seem to cover the same ground. In a way, I like to get an idea of Chomsky's views on recent events, and while his later books may give some insight, unfortunately you tend to have to go over a lot of old ground to get to the new ideas. Further, his take on the new events tend to simply support the same arguments that he has been...more I have read a few books by Noam Chomsky, and despite him being a very accessible writer, and a profound intellectual, his books tend to all be on the same theme and all seem to cover the same ground. In a way, I like to get an idea of Chomsky's views on recent events, and while his later books may give some insight, unfortunately you tend to have to go over a lot of old ground to get to the new ideas. Further, his take on the new events tend to simply support the same arguments that he has been propounding since the days of Vietnam.
However it is interesting that after Vietnam, and during the eighties and ninties, Chomsky was not very prominent. It was only after September 11, and George Bush's assault on democracy that Chomsky suddenly became popular again. The difficult thing with Chomsky is that while his books are quite accessible (that is easy to read), his positions on various subjects are not something that can be explained in a soundbite. For example, an add that says 'Coke Adds Life' immediately brings a flood of images to the persons mind, while the statement 'the bible is history's most genocidal text' will automatically force believers in the bible onto the defensive, and the statement itself requires a lot of background explanation. This is Chomksy's problem: he is fighting against a global media conglomerate that is fulling people's minds with propaganda and forcing out all opposing views.
This book opens with a chapter on the nuclear arms race and his concerns regarding it. While not admitted, satalites containing nuclear weapons orbit the earth, and as he suggests, one accidental slip of a finger can bring armageddon crashing down upon us. While this is not the crux of the book, it is an opening that will make us sit up a listen. Nobody wins in a nuclear war, and while the days of the eighties are beyond (and I remember fearing a nuclear holocaust as a child), it is still something that sits uncomfortably at the back of our mind.
In this book Chomsky's thesis is that despite the US travelling around the world pointing out all the failed states, it is the US that is the one major failed state. This I would disagree with him. I do not believe that the US was a failed state any more that pre-invasion Iraq or North Korea is a failed state. While they may not have been pleasant places to live, and the government incredibly corrupt, it is still a functioning government. The only true failed state would be Somalia, where there isn't a functioning government, and at this time of this writing, you could also add Ivory Coast, Afghanistan, Lybia, Yemen, and the Congo just to name a few where the government has pretty much lost control of most of the country, and it has descended into civil war (and it could be argued that the Congo has never had a functioning government).
While I would always recommend a Chomsky book, unfortunately, he does end up going over old ground, and his books do end up becoming quite repetitive.(less)

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Nov 27, 2010

Charlie rated it

Shelves: pop-academic, radical-politics

Chomsky was my guide through American culture at one point. Now I learn to ignore the lies and insanity of our republic and this book was the beginning of the end for me of caring. It seems that in his old age, Noam Chomsky is less inspired to put his academic training into play in this book by explaining his conclusions with painstaking care and referencing everything. In this text he just seems to go off on how awful and hopeless it all is. Perhaps after all these years Chomsky just gets to ra...more

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Feb 14, 2009

Amari rated it

Shelves: general-non-fiction

The first part: simply a random string of inflammatory, sarcastic statements. Not particularly well crafted. However, it grew on me. Extremely informative, and compelling, even if (especially since?) it nags the thoughtful reader to check many things in other sources. A mind-boggling compendium of information, obnoxiously slanted. Part of me thinks that it's overdone if it causes me (of all people) to wonder if Chomsky is off his rocker with regard to more than a few things. In other words, that...more

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Aug 31, 2009

Ewan rated it

Such an intense book. Masses of evidence condensed down into as close to the truth as we're ever going to get - and it's a depressing truth.

I found the whole book stimulating to read, but it was the 6th chapter, "Democracy Promotion at Home" (which strayed from the main focus of the book - American foreign policy), that I found most interesting.

In it, Chomsky basically predicts the current financial meltdown in the US and the reasons for it. He then leads ...more

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Dec 17, 2009

Jim Good rated it

Shelves: history, non-fiction, sociology

The book covers American involvement in the world and the effects that involvement is having in todays politics. The US suposition of supremacy in world affairs from excusing itself from the Non-Proliferation Treay, the Kyoto Accords, or the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice have created a world hostile to the US and it’s role therein according to Noam. He takes great care to show the issue as not just Bush II’s but a line unbroken from Reagen to Bush and therefore culible to bo...more

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Jun 11, 2011

Andy rated it

Chomsky portrays the United States as a failed state because of the government's disregard for international law and the treaties the country has accepted as well as the lack of real democracy at home. There's a lot to go into with such a thesis. One interesting point is his reference to surveys indicating that the majority of those polled want more spent on health care, job creation, and global warming and less given to the military and big business. He sites these polls in a positive way bu...more

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Jun 16, 2010

Thea rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Having read a bit of failed state literature, I picked up this book thinking it would be good to get an "alternative" perspective on failed states and thinking that maybe I would learn something. Nevertheless, all I learned is that Noam Chomsky thinks that everything America does is bad, and takes some 263, choppy, poorly argued and poorly evidenced pages to say so. I had to read a New York Times book review to get an abridged version of his argument, since I had such a hard time picki...moreHaving read a bit of failed state literature, I picked up this book thinking it would be good to get an "alternative" perspective on failed states and thinking that maybe I would learn something. Nevertheless, all I learned is that Noam Chomsky thinks that everything America does is bad, and takes some 263, choppy, poorly argued and poorly evidenced pages to say so. I had to read a New York Times book review to get an abridged version of his argument, since I had such a hard time picking it out myself. Basically, Noam thinks that America is the world's biggest hypocrite, because for all of their policing of "rogue states" (I think that he conflates rogue states with failed states...not all failed states are rogue states and vice versa), America is indeed a failed state itself. I find this argument tenuous at best and insulting to those who truly do live in the humanitarian calamities that failed statism engenders (re: comparing US healthcare to the complete dearth of it in the DRC is offensive to me...maybe I'm too sensitive). He does not engage the prevailing themes in failed state literature, such as the sovereignty compact, the notion of sovereign command and/or the international security guarantee, nor does he analyze what interests me the most about failed states which is the widespread human rights abuses and endemic underdevelopment that can occur when state authority erodes. He glosses over these issues in favour of slagging US foreign policy, which is fine, but just don't claim that your book is about failed states. In disparaging the US, he relies on what I found to be at times, offensive arguments. At one point, he claims that China is better global citizen from the US, I guess that I haven't forgiven China for propping up the genocidal regime in Sudan and offering interest free loans to Robert Mugabe as he lead his country straight to the number 2 position on Foreign Policy Journal's 2009 Failed State Index. What's worse, is his suggesting that there were little to no humanitarian reasons for the US and International Community to intervene in the Bosnia-Serbia conflict in the early 90s...you know, the one where 10000 unarmed civilians were massacred at Srebrenica, among a long laundry list of other human rights abuses. In sum, I think that Noam's disdain for US foreign policy clouds his ability to make a coherent, well supported counter-argument to current failed state debates and to add anything meaningful to the existing literature on the subject. If you really want to learn about failed states, read Ashraf Ghani and Claire Lockhart and learn something. (less)

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Dec 05, 2010

Marvel rated it

The first 3/4 of this book was a little hard to get through for me with all the technical detail about the situation in the Middle East and the history of US foreign policy across the globe(because I'm far too ignorant about it)but the last 1/4 was easy to understand (and extremely interesting and very very important) even for someone like me :P I especially love the last few paragraphs of the afterward. I want to print them out on a poster and hang them on a wall in my house! For me personally,...more

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Jul 26, 2011

H Wesselius added it

In the 80s and 90s, I was not a big fan of Chomsky, in part because his books seemed regurgitated from his books in the 70s -- the ultimate recycler. Vietnam/Nicargua -- imperialsim/hegmony/centre/peripheral etc. However, the W years gave him new material, a new focus and less self-righteousness and more wit. He claims the US is the ultimate failed state due to its disregard for both the interantioanl community and its own populace. Although he spent too much time on Serbia/Kosovo and Isreal/Pal...more

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Mar 22, 2010

Ted Child rated it

Chomsky, in my mind, is almost beyond criticism. There is simply no one else like him, doing what he is doing. It has been a while since I read anything from him and I regret that even more after reading this. I am determined to read more soon. I feel more like myself when I read Chomsky and that I understand the world and it’s reality so much better. If there was one thing I would like to see, not really a criticism but a preference, is to see Chomsky point his genius intellect on subjects beyo...more

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Aug 31, 2009

muhammad lafi rated it

يسميها الفاشلة
بماذا؟
بالقدرة على تطبيق الديمقراطية، واعضاء الحرية
انها ولايات القمع حول العالم التي تسير مربوطة بالسلك الى اسيادها في واشنطن
تشمسكي يسرد لنا الكثير من الامثلة عن تلك الدول المتلخصة اساسا في الولايات المتحدة
أحداث تم التعتيم عليها تاريخيا
واكاذيب في غواتيمالا نيكاراجوا فيتنام العراق فلسطين .ولنحصي كل مكان وصلته الحضارة الامريكية
لاغم تحفظي على جوانب كثيرة الا انه كتاب مهم ومهم جدا

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Jun 06, 2010

Manuel rated it

· review of another edition

Comeza o libro cun leve pingalleo de feitos constatados que disturban ó lector, uns por coñecidos, outros por vagamente referenciados. Chomsky continúa aquí enfiando feitos ata desatar unha tormenta perfecta sobre a idea concebida, fabricada mediáticamente, do que en occidente entendemos por democracia e que enarbola un país que o autor fai constar a todas luces como pouco democrático, caótico e cunha población de costas ó seus gobernantes.

É realmente fascinante comprobar como Chomsk...more

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Jul 27, 2010

Hispanicpundit rated it

Noam Chomsky is the last of the Marxist historians that were so prominent in the early half of the 20th century. Their view of the world is shaped primarily through the eyes of class conflict and the paranoia of corporate interests on public life. Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy provides Chomsky a footing to go around the world and back to at least the 1960's, to show that little has changed. United States foreign policy is still in the hands of corporate interests...moreNoam Chomsky is the last of the Marxist historians that were so prominent in the early half of the 20th century. Their view of the world is shaped primarily through the eyes of class conflict and the paranoia of corporate interests on public life. Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy provides Chomsky a footing to go around the world and back to at least the 1960's, to show that little has changed. United States foreign policy is still in the hands of corporate interests and it’s those interests that reign supreme over noble goals like democracy and self-determination.

In so doing, Chomsky makes many valid points. A point that Chomsky is often unfairly criticized for but lives up to so well is that he focuses his criticism primarily on US foreign policy. To him, even if the USSR or the rest of the world for that matter, performed worse atrocities, it's all irrelevant. The first and most important atrocities one should be aware of are those one can control the most. As American citizens, those atrocities are primarily those committed by the United States. Failed States is a tour de force of our worst human rights abuses.

My favorite aspects of Failed States include the following: Chomsky’s discussions on the threat of nuclear war, a topic that deserves more attention; how he took the concept of "pre-emptive war" to its logical limits and argued that one could make the case that the Japanese, during World War II, engaged in pre-emptive war by attacking Pearl Harbor; how he shows that Iraq is just too important to leave to "democracy" from a US interest perspective; how through the duration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israel has conveniently aggrandized more and more land; and most importantly, elucidated how US foreign policy actions look to the rest of the world, and how those actions could motivate violence against us.

Chomsky's book suffers from three crucial shortcomings. First, he fails to see the multifaceted nature of US foreign policy. Foreign policy has several overlaying elements. For example, a President will consult with various Cabinet members on whether or not to go to war with Iraq. One Cabinet member favors war purely for self-interest reasons (e.g., importance of foreign oil to our economy). A second is motivated by altruistic reasons (e.g., Democracy in middle east). A third focuses her argument on pragmatic reasons (e.g. military bases near Iran and fighting terrorism on their territory). These Cabinet members’ views are not mutually exclusive. Yet Chomsky would take the quotes of the purely self-interested person and give the impression that this is the only or even primary reason he favors war when in reality the decision could be a combination of all three Cabinet members’ views. The same Cabinet member could hold all three views in varying degrees. To say that a foreign policy goal had a self interest reason is not to say that it’s altruistic reason or pragmatic reason is void. Chomsky, like most leftists, fails to understand this. You can, for example, be a doctor motivated by both greed and altruism, the two are not mutually exclusive. I believe both motivations combined make for better doctors.

Second, Chomsky doesn't understand that foreign policy is extremely contextual. He cites the United States’ positive relationship with thugs such as Saddam Hussein and Pablo Escobar only to later turn on them when it suits their self interest. This about face should not be problematic. For example, we aligned with the communist Soviet Union to defeat Nazi Germany. Who would argue that was a moral error? The more important question has always been: what is the larger threat?

Third, there are several examples of Chomsky’s failure to fully contextualize the situation. In his discussion of US engagement in Latin America, do not expect a fair treatment of the communist influence in the region. Chomsky also prefers to focus on countries that were poor before the US got involved. He then argues persuasively that they were poor after and makes the dubious implication that their poverty is because of US involvement. Inconvenient countries such as Chile -- both the richest country in Latin America (by far) and one so enthralled by US economics that the Chicago boys, with Milton Friedman himself, advised the government on how to prosper -- are quickly dismissed. Chomsky focuses on the selfish motivations fueling the Marshall Plan, but ignores the fact that the two countries the US influenced most, Germany and Japan, are very wealthy. Both countries are the richest in their respective regions. In the discussion of the Vietnam war, Chomsky excludes comparisons to an eventual outcome like in South Korea as productive country in contrast to North Korea. Finally, in his take on the "Washington Consensus," Chomsky prefers discussions of countries that favor his contrarian viewpoint, and little to nothing is discussed on countries that present problems to that viewpoints. For example, Hong Kong, is completely absent from his discussion despite the fact that it was a textbook case of "Washington Consensus" and also exhibited the quickest alleviation of poverty in the history of man.

In the end, one should appreciate Failed States for what it is: a major work from a leftwing viewpoint. One should understand that Chomsky will exaggerate, omit, or flat out mislead to keep in line with the worldview he favors. If taken at face value, the reader will walk away with a grossly inaccurate impression. After reading Failed States and other Chomsky works, the reader would never know that over the past 30 years, precisely when neoliberalism was spreading, that the world has become substantially richer. World inequality has shrunk and the growth is especially prominent in developing countries. Aside from a growth in GDP, there have also been increases in life expectancy and a decline in infant mortality rates. Chomsky, typical of Marxist historians, is stuck in 1968 politics. He hasn't changed and neither have his viewpoints, yet the world has changed dramatically for the better. And this is his biggest weakness.
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Jan 26, 2010

miaaa rated it

Recommended to miaaa by: Graeme Stephen

Shelves: ophelia-s-library, non-fictions-others

for once Graeme got a right book for me hehe

and Lams is right, reading this book might make me depressed because as Chomsky stated in the Afterword,

'One commonly hears that carping critics complain about what is wrong, but do not present solutions. There is an accurate translation for that charge: "They present solutions, but I don't like them." In addition to the proposals that should be familiar about dealing with the crises that reach to the level of surviva...more

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Feb 11, 2008

Ray rated it

Chomsky readers probably would expect to hear examples of how our Country's International and internal policies are not always perfect. So there would be no surprise to read that there's been a movement under current leadership to act more and more independently without regard to international concensus or support. Whether it's regime change in Iraq, rejection of the Kyoto Protocols, redefining torture definitions of the Geneva Convention, unilateral and unfailing support of Israel's actions i...more

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Mar 29, 2007

Eric Gulliver rated it

Shelves: internationalaffairs, politics

If there were any one thing that Noam Chomsky should be revered for, it would have to be his indelible use of evidence. In his latest authored work entitled Failed States, Chomsky meticulously sifts through use of the rhetoric of principles and compares to its actual practice, presenting a chilling exposition of, “The (American) Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy.”1 Throughout the book, Chomsky focuses his attention on the deterioration of domestic democracy in the United States and ela...moreIf there were any one thing that Noam Chomsky should be revered for, it would have to be his indelible use of evidence. In his latest authored work entitled Failed States, Chomsky meticulously sifts through use of the rhetoric of principles and compares to its actual practice, presenting a chilling exposition of, “The (American) Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy.”1 Throughout the book, Chomsky focuses his attention on the deterioration of domestic democracy in the United States and elaborates on which principles and more specifically, what actions are contributing to such corrosion. Moreover, not only does Chomsky accurately provide citations and evidence for his arguments, he points to further notions that the current “Assault on Democracy,” is the continuation of a process that has been cemented in principles and institutionalized in practice throughout history. In a remarkably concise yet convicting piece, Chomsky presents a valid case for why the current direction of the United States (at home and abroad) is leading toward the definition of a “Failed State”, and more importantly, presents a reasonably optimistic faith in the public and possible change that may be in the making.
Firstly, Chomsky begins Failed States with the chapter titled “Stark, dreadful and inescapable,” in reference to a 1955 appeal from Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein to the world to either renounce war or risk nuclear annihilation.2 Not long into the chapter, Chomsky goes onto state his primary objective in the book, to argue that the United States (or the Elitist/Ruling interests) do not adhere to the most elementary moral truism: The current incumbents do not apply to themselves the same standards they demand of others.3 Throughout the chapter (as the chapter are divided up by subsections) Chomsky’s primary contention is that the US’ current (as well as past) actions towards Nuclear Proliferation and Terrorism are not achieving their objectives of reducing the spread of WMD or terrorism, but are adversely encouraging and accelerating the spread of them. Relying on examples from Reagan’s SDI initiative, the denying of expert opinion regarding terrorism, and the further disregard of International bodies (a reoccurring theme), which the current administration has endorsed, Chomsky begins frighteningly with the prospects of the two most powerful forces on earth.
The second section of the book entitled “Outlaw States,” speaks for itself in a reference to Chomsky’s reoccurring title of rogue or outlaw qualities of a state. This austere chapter poses the hypothesis that through veto power, re-writing of law and total rejection, the US in its actions and/or justifications at home and abroad are becoming characteristic of an outlaw state. Chomsky gives due regard for International bodies such as the UN, World Court, and Human Rights Organizations, while giving evidence for how the US acts in either total rejection or defiance of such bodies. With sections devoted to the rescinding of Geneva Conventions by torture tactics, the “ignorance” of corruption scandals, and the Self-Exclusion from persecution techniques, the chapter scornfully addresses the US as ignoring International Law and Cooperation and furthermore, ignoring basic natural and/or human rights blatantly.

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Jan 04, 2012

Chris Brimmer rated it

Shelves: economics, energy, history, philosophy, public-policy

Diatribe by a pompus windbag in love with his own intellect. Condesending to the reader, Chomsky wants you to know that he is wiser and smarter than you are and in an annoying suck tooth way is usually right. His points always seem overblown, hyper-stated and always imply evil intent of those he accuses breathlessly. Yet the most maddening thing about this book is that its right all the way down the line, proving once again that just because you're an asshole doesn't mean you're wrong.

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Sep 19, 2008

Fiachna rated it

Recommends it for: anyone with a mind their not afraid to use

Noam Chomsky, reviled by the red-neck right is certainly a breath of fresh air to the political debate. Though to be honest, he's hardly fresh, having been around for so long.
He research's methodically and puts forth such a cohesive and logical debate that only the most narrow minded and rabid of patriots could fail to be swayed by his arguments.
He does what a true "Patriot" should do and examines the practices of those in power rather than blindly following and accepting u...more

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May 16, 2008

Carmen Lamm rated it

Chomsky boggles my mind. I love him and hate him for making my brain ache, but it's like a good workout afterwards, and the adrenaline starts to run throughout your brain connecting neurons. This book in particular really points out without reasonable doubt, how and why the US is a failed state.

This book helps you understand the intricate steps that the US takes to really fuck things over for ourselves and other countries. Chomsky uncovers the deception and unravels the steps in whi...more

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Jun 01, 2011

Matt rated it

Chomsky is the foundation for a healthy distrust of selective news journalism and the 'Disneyfied' history pushed by major media outlets and other indoctrinating institutions. He has an eye for hypocrisy, and is a strong proponent of examining the principle of universality, and how it relates to US global policy.

He speaks for a majority of Americans (at least those polled) on issues like health care and affordable medicine, pension, education, international law, ratification of the ...more

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Dec 19, 2011

Scott Lupo rated it

Shelves: non-fiction

While Chomsky's book "Hegemony or Survival" was a fact filled, academic view on US foreign policy, "Failed States" takes those facts with the author's wit and sarcasm to whole new levels. Every American should read this book. I mean it. We have strong-armed and forced the countries of the world to bend to our capitalistic needs far too often to not have some consequences. US foreign policy is extremely troubling and unsustainable at current levels. Additionally, we have ...more

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Aug 24, 2009

Christinaottis rated it

I haven't completely finished this book, so it's on the shelf for a while. It's excellent, but very dense - each page is full of valuable information. Noam Chomsky is an excellent writer and critic of the United States as a hegemony. There is a lot of eye-opening information regarding why the U.S. has entered various wars.

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Jun 18, 2008

Edmund rated it

This is the most depressing book ever, except for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, IBM & the Holocaust, and many others.

But it does offer amazing analysis of US foreign policy, and if you don't know this stuff, you don't know what's going on. Check out the section on Fallujah (remember Fallujah? ) and perhaps you'll go to bed muttering about how freaking evil war and government policy is, especially considering the roach-like attention span of American media.

Meanwhile, I...more

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May 06, 2011

Natasha rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, history

A very informative, eye opening book. Chomsky provides a lot of information that shows how the US is mismanaging itself and its policies. I do take what he says with a slight grain of salt because he seems so tilted towards the bad. Even though we aren't the best country, I do love living here.

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Sep 26, 2011

Ted Makana Ragsdale rated it

Wow - read in 4 short hours! PRofessor Chomsky is amazing and full of outstanding insight! Sooooooo relevant to the 10 year anniversary of 9-11 and the horrific autrocities against humanity and American Freedoms on Wall street this week!

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Sep 12, 2011

Laura Stone rated it

I couldn't get through this - Chomsky's writing was clearly well done and his ideas interesting, however I was listening to the book on CD and the reader was UNBEARABLE! Perhaps I will try to pick this up in paperback/hardcopy.

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About Noam Chomsky

Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, political activist, author, and lecturer. He is an Institute Professor and professor emeritus of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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“As in the past, the costs and risks of the coming phases of the industrial economy were to be socialized, with eventual profits privatized ...” — 2 people liked it

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title link	preview: Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55227.Failed_States?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327954423m/55227.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55227.Failed_States?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy by Noam Chomsky[/url]

Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy

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